Turntable



Feb. 8 1927.

w. M. LAYTON TURNTABLE Filed April 1, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1,617,063 1927' w. M. LAYTON TURNTABLE Filed April 1. 1925' I s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb; 8, 1927,

' WILLIAM ivr. LAYTONQOF MANSFIELD, oriro. i

' TURNTABLE.

Application filed April 1, 1925. Serial No. 19,836;

' This invention relates to a self-acting turn table and while capable of general use for turning vehicles such as automobiles or loco-v motives, the present invention is directedparticularly to an automatic turn table for use in connection with toy electric railway systems. v

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an *automaticturn tablev which maybe connected in the track system and which shall be capable of receiving and automatically stopplng the electric locomotive or train, turning such locomotive or train through 180, and then applying power With these and other objects in view, invention consists in the various novel features of construction and arrangement or combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims. 7 p

In the drawings accompanying and forming part ofthis vapplication, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of arailwaysystern-showing my turn table operatively connected thereto and showing an electric loco-. motive about to be received'or about to leave the turn table; Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the locomotive 'in position on the turn table and ready to be rotated to 180-; Fig. '3 is a top plan view of the turn table and a portion of the associated rail system; Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 1--4. of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the turn table and post therefor. Describing the various parts 'byreference characters, 1 denotes a base which is preferably formed from sheet metal and provided with an upwardly embossed portion Qwhichr is adapted to support the turn table and associated mechanism. Fastened adjacent one end of the base is a pair of spaced curved tracks 3 and 4 which have their upper edges arranged to define an inclined plane, and rising from the center point of such tracks is a pivot post 4*. This ,postmay be' -fastended to the base in any suitable manner-as by riveting over the underside thereof as indicated at 5. The upper end of post 4* is reduced in diameter,as indicated at (land the upper end thereof is sharpened as at7.

Pivotally mounted on the sharpened end-oi post 4; is a turn tablecomprising a channeled-shaped sheet metal supporting memher 9 which carries a. center rail 10 and out- .side'rails 11, 11,'t-he latter being fastened by 3 screws, 12 to the flanges 13 of thesup'porting member 9-and insulated therefrom by suitable insulating material 14 interposed therebetween. It will be noted fromFig. 5 that I preferablyform member 9 with an elon-. v

gated longitudinally disposed aperture-14 and center rail 10 with an enlarged socket 14" so as to permit free tilting movement of the turn table about post P as well as rotary. movement thereabout as will be explained hereinafter. The center rail'lO is co'ntinuone from one end of the turn table to the other, while the outer rails 11 are divided on each side of the support 9 into two sections as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these i sections being insulated, one from the other by the aforementioned insulation 14 and also by an air gap l 5 separating such sections. The inner abutting ends of these rail sections are provided'with an arcuate depression 16 which are adapted to receive the 1 wheels of the locomotive '17 as will be-more fully explained'hereinaft'er. Fastened to a pair 'of rail sections 11 along one'side of the turn table adjacent each outer end thereof, is

a metallic extension 19,"and these extensions are adapted to contact with the outer rails 26 of the stationary track to limit the rotary movement of the turntable. On the under side and adjacent each end of the turn table is fastened a'pair of brackets 21, 21 which pivotally support an anti-friction roller 22. One of these rollers is adapted to engage curved track 3 while the other of track 4: andthereby facilitate the rotation of the turn table about-its pivotal point.

Adjacent the lower end of the curved tracks 3 and 4 there is positioned a section of stationary track 20, a portion of which is preferably inclined at an angle slightly less than the normal angle of inclination of the turn table. This sectional track may be conveniently supported by a sheet metal member 24; which extends transverselybesaid rollers-is adapted to engage curved neath the rails ot the trackwsection and -is provided. with embossed portions 25 that are adapted to embrace the lower portion of the rails. .Inthis connection it will be .5 noted by referring to Fig. 8' that thetwo outer rails 26 of the track section 20. are insulated from the support 24 by suitable insulating material 27 interposed between the embossed portions 25 and the rails 26. The reenter rai12"? 'is inelectrica1Contact withythessupport24: and also avithithe .1 'Eac'h ofthe outer rail sections 126 has j'it'astenedithereto "adjacent one end, aifieiiible 'ccontact strip 228 iwhich'ziscadapted :to been- .gaged byrthe aforementioned n.'ojections l9 roni-t'he turnrtable: and thereby permit za-transfer: :of z'electrical ienergy fromjthe zrails 26 to the turn 'table :rail sections 111 depending -1tpon ewhich projection .19 zandkcontact 28 mreengaged. .These'contact stripsxalso serve 'to :hold rtheturn :table in alignment withithe stationaryitracksection after the locomotive has leftithetturn table.

llnaoperation rthe 5stationsr use section 20 is connected to the tracl: system iat any 'desiredipoint. .A locomotive 1- 7 or other electrical vehicle :proc'eeding over itrack section :20 will continue up ithe"tlllil l :table as :shovvndnFEiggl untilithe-rear Wheels'of: such 30 vehicle: are engaged-in the upper areuate depressions T16 of the rail sections 11, current being supplied to the turn table :throughthe eenter rail 27 oifrthe:track -system,support base it, and pivot apos't "45 to the center of the :upper trail sections as shown in .2. l he weight of the vehicle willcause .the :turn :table to 1ro.ck about its longitudinal axis, depressing'the :upper'end thereof until zroller 22 engages with curved track a, whereupon the Weightoof the vehicle will cause the turn table to rotate by gravity (down the incline plane of the curved track. The turn table with tthe vehicle thereon will lthlhs turn through 180 ("or until .the upper PlOjGGiiiOIl 19 engages the other rail .26 of wit-rack section 20. Wi hen the turn table :has =eoinpleted its rotary movement it will be meted that .current is now free vto lioW from the renter :rail 2.7" to the center :rail :10 or :railllO ofrthe turn table. :CHI-lGl'llZilihGIl-"flOWS 'WllQGlS thereofqin the arcuate depressions l6 tlie turn table,.a-s previouslyfidescribed and thence .t. l'iromgh..tl1e motor .toathe Wheels of the vehlcle and through the track section ll, projection .19 and contact 28 to the other rail'2 6. The vehicle motor is thus energized causing the vehicle to automatically leave the turn table and'proceed over the track sv locomotive again approaches the turn table the same operation will ztalie place but in :this instancethe turn table will srotate -=in an opposite direction-t0 @ausethe other projec tion .19 to swing :about undengage the rail section 26.

' .From the dioregoing description it Will :be

min an opposite direction. "When the.

apparent that the turn table is entirel-vauto.

matically supplied to cause the vehicle to .move thereoffof i ts own power. 7 p if desired suitable side ,plates 30 as indicated by dot-and-dash lines mayvbe iastened along the sides'of the turn table to insure. the locomotive remaining on .the rails. of the turn table during the ,rotary movement thereof and particularly atthe instant when the turn table isstoppedby extension l9=enagaging rail .26.

Having thus What I claim is: V 1. .An automatic turntable comprising a plurality of .:independent inclined :curved track sections, a ;pivot ,post, a turntable ,ro-

tati-vel-y mounted .on said pivot post, rollers disposed beneath said turntable and in ali 'nment with said track sections, and means .forzpermitting. a tilting movement 01' said turntableabout said pivot post .to .engage certain ofsaid rollers ZltllitSlBSPQO- tive :track section *and automatically} start said turntable rotating;

described .my invention .2. Ali-automatic turntable comprising a plurality of independent inclined curved track sections, .a pivot post a turntable r o .tatively mounted on said pivot ,post, rollers disposed beneath said turntable and .in alignment with said track sections, means for permitting a tiltingmovement of said turntable about said pivot ,post to engage certain of said rollers Withi ts respective track section, and means for limiting rotational movement of said turntable through 3. An automatic turntable eomprisi-nginclined curved track sections, a pivo't post, a

turntable rotative'ly -mounted on said pivot post rollers disposed beneath said turntable and in alignment with said track sections,

said turntable abontsaid pivot post to en- -means for rpern'iittingratilting movement oi *saidturntable, and means for stopping'the rotational movement of said turntable in eitherdirection in alignment with said stationary track.

.4. .An automatic turntable for electric rail- Wayscomprising a base, a stationary track mounted on said base, a turntable arranged on an incline and disposed in operative relation to said stationary track,'means for rotativclv supporting said turntable and permit ting; a tilting-movement of said turntable about the longitudinal axis thereof, said turntable having pairs of rail sections thereoninsulated from each other, and means for automatically electrically connecting the lower: rail sections with the stationary track,

and disconnecting the upper rail sections therefrom.

5. An automatic turntable for electric railways comprising a base, a stationary track mounted on said base, a turntable arranged on an incline anddisposed in operative rela- 1 tion-to said stationary track, said turntable being rotatable about an axis to position eitherend thereof. in alignment with said stationary track, said turntable having pairs of rail sections thereon electrically insulated from each other, and means for automatically electrically connecting the lower rail sections with said stationary track-and disconnecting the upper rail sections therefrom.

6. [An automatic turntable for electric railways comprising a base, a stationary track mounted on said base, a turntable arranged on an incline and disposed in operative relation to said stationary traclcsaid turntable being rotatable by gravity about an axis to positioneither end thereof in alignment with said stationary track, said turntable having pairs of railsections thereon electrically insulated from each other, means for automatically electrically connecting the lower rail sections with said stationary track and disconnecting the upper rail sections there from, and additional means for stopping an electric vehicle on said upper rail sections.

7. An automatic turntable for electric railways comprising a base, a stationary inclined track mounted on said base, a pair of inclined curved tracks mounted on said base, a pivot post rising from said base, a turn table rotatively mounted on said post .and disposed. in operative relation to said stationary track, a roller disposed beneath each end portion of said turntable, said turntable being adapted to tilt on said post to engage either of said rollers with its respective curved track, said turntable having pairs of rail sections insulated from each other, and means for automatically electrically connecting the lower rail sections with said stationary track and disconnecting the upperrail sections therefrom.

. 8. An automatic turntable comprisinga base, a stationary track mounted on said base, a turntable arranged on an incline and in operative relationto said track, means for automatically stopping an electric vehicle adjacent the upper end of saldturntable,

means for rotating said-turntable and vehi-.

cle through a predetermined angle, and means for automatically starting said vehicle from said turntable. r

9. An automatic turntable comprising a base, a stationary track carried by said base, a pivot post, a turntable rotatively mounted on said pivot post and arranged on an incline, means for temporarily holding said turntable in operative'relation to said stationary track, means for automatically stopping an electric vehicle'adjacent the upper end of said turntable, means for automatic ally rotating said turntable and vehicle through 180, and means for automatically starting said vehicle when said turntable is in alignment with said stationary track.

[10. An automatic. turntable comprising a for stopping said turntable in alignment with said stationarytrack, side plates carried by said turntable for preventing the vehicle from leaving 'the'turntabledue to-the impact of stopping, and means for automatically starting said vehicle When said turn table is in alignment with said -stationary track.

11. An automatic turntable comprising'a base, a pivot post rising from said b'ase,a turntable normally arranged on an incline and rotatively mounted'on said pivot post, astationary track disposed in operative relation to said turn tableand arranged on an incline, andymeans for-permitting a tilting movement of-said turntable longitudinally about said-pivot post as a fulcrum, thereby to change the angle of inclination of'said turntable and automatically permit the same to rotate I over a predetermined arc by gravity. I i r 12. An automati c turntable comprisinga base a pivot-post rising from said base, an inclined curved track section mounted on said base, a turntable normally disposed 'on an incline and rotativelymounted on said pivot post, rollers disposed beneath said turntable in alignment With said track section, a l sta rotate over a predetermined are by gravity. 13. An automatic turntable tor electric railways comprising a'st'ationary track, a pivot post, a turntable disposed in operative relation to said stationary traclnsaid turntable being rotatively mounted on} said pivot post, means -tor supplying electrical energy to a vehicle from section of said turntable, additional means for disconnecting said ve hicle from the source of electrical energy, and means "for permitting a limited-tilting movement of said turntablelongitudinally about said pivot post as a fulcrum, thereby to change the angle of inclination of said turntable and permit the same to rotate over a predetermined are by gravity. 14. An automatic turntable for electric railways comprising a :base, a stationary track mounted on saidbase, a pivot post rising from said base, two independent spaced inclinedcurved track sections mounted on said base, a turntable normally arranged on an incline and disposed in operative relation 7 to said stationary track, said turntable being trical energy to a vehicle thereomadditional means carried by sald turn table for discon- .necting said vehicle from the source of electrical energy, rollers disposed underneath said turntable and in alignmentwith said track sections, and'means for permitting a tilting, movement of sard turntable long1tu-' dinally about said pivot post as a fulcrum to engage said rollers with their respective track sections. p

'15. An automatic turntable for electric railways comprising a base, a stationary track mounted on said base, a pivot post rising from said base, two independent-spaced inclined curved track sections mounted on said base, a turntable normally arranged on Za-nincline and disposed in operative relation to said stationary'track, said turntable being rotatively mounted on said pivot post, rollers disposed underneath said turntable and in alignment with said track sections, meansfor permitting a: tilting movement of said turntable longitudinally about said pivot postasa fulcrum to'engage said rollers with their respective track sections, thereby to change the angle of inclination of said turntable and permit the same to automatically start to rotate over a predetermined are by gravity, and means for stopping rotati-onal movement of said turntable in either direction in alignment with said stationary track. I

An automatic turntable. for electric railways comprising a stationary track, a

neraoea posed in operative relation to saidstationary track, means t orrotat-ably supporting said turntable, means for permitting a V tilting movement of said turntable about the longitudinal axis thereof, rails'carried by'said turntable for receiving an electric vehicle, means for disrupting the flow of electric energy to a vehicle on said-turntable at a predetermined point thereon, means for "auton'iatically rotating said turntable and vehicle through a predetermined angle, and means for es ablishing'the tiow of electric energ to said vehicle to cause the same toleave the turntable.

18. An automatic turn table for electric railways comprising one or more stationary tracks, a turn table disposed in operative relation to said stationary tracks, means ro-' tatably supporting said turn table,means for permitting a tilting moven'ient o'i said-turn table about the longitudinal axis thereot, rails carried by said turn table for receiving an electric vehicle, means for disrupting the ilow'of electric energy to a vehicle, on said turntable, means for holding said vehicle stationaryon said turn table, means for automatically rotating said turntable and vehi' ole through a predetermined angle, and neans for establishing the flow of electric energy to said Vehicle to cause the same to leave the turn table;

19. An automatic turn table comprising a base, apivot post, a turn table rotatively. mounted on said post, rails carried by said turntable for receiving an electric vehicle.

means for automatically stopping an electric vehicle on said turn table, means for holding said vehicle stationary on said turnftable, means for automatically rotatingsaid turn table and vehicle through a predetermined angle, and means for automatically causing said vehicle to leave said turn table;

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature. V 7

- WILLIAM M. LAYTON. 

